Nurse Trudie is Engaged (11 page)

All the way home Trudie sat alone in the back seat listening to the other two exchanging small talk, of which Veronica appeared to have an endless and amusing fund; she watched, in the gathering dusk, the provocative tilt of that lovely face, listened to the husky attractive voice, pitched now too low for her to catch more than an occasional word. What she heard seemed innocent enough, but apparently Philip found the conversation stimulating and amusing, for his laughter rang out more than once, and he appeared to find no difficulty at all in carrying on a conversation with this complete stranger.

“
And he says he
’
s afraid of women,
”
Trudie reflected grimly.
“
Maybe because he hasn
’
t met one like Veronica before!
”

By the time they reached The Cedars Trudie
’
s pleasure from the day had completely vanished. Even the feel of the new ring on her finger was strange and unreal, not reassuring as it had seemed all afternoon. Her father must have been watching for the car, for he appeared at the open door almost before Philip had braked to a halt and was halfway down the steps to greet Veronica as she stepped from the car.

“
Welcome, my dear.
”
Dr. Hislop
’
s deep voice boomed his greeting into the darkened yard, as he held out his arms to the slender girl who did not hesitate to enter their shelter.
“
Garth,
”
he said, and now, Trudie noticed, he had not hesitated over the name but said it as naturally as he said
“
Malcolm
”
and
“
Geoff,
”
“
wrote us that you had no family of your own. You must let us be your family from now on and remember you
’
ve come home.
”

His voice was gruff with sentiment, and for a moment Trudie stood by the car, hesitating, realizing Philip
’
s gaze was fixed on the newcomer. Then Malcolm ran down the steps and took her arm.

“
Tired, love?
”
he asked solicitously.
“
Had a good day?
”

“
Lovely.
”
Trudie spoke the truth. The day had been lovely; it was early evening when the atmosphere had changed. Malcolm put his hand under her arm and assisted her up the steps, Philip following at their heels. As they entered the house Malcolm asked abruptly, as though the thought had just occu
r
red to him,
“
Did you get your ring?
”

“
Yes.
”
Trudie held up her hand and pulled off her glove, moving into the light so that he could see better.

“
It
’
s beautiful,
”
Malcolm said gently.
“
A lovely symbol
... I repeat my congratulations to you both.
”

At his words Dr. Hislop turned too, and in a few moments they were all crowding around Trudie and Philip in the hall, admiring the ring, and offering more laughing congratulations. When Mrs. Emma joined them and had added her own quota of admiration, Dr. Hislop felt they were neglecting their duties as hosts.

“
Would you like a drink first, my dear, or come straight in for a meal when you
’
ve washed?
”
he asked Veronica kindly.
“
Just as you wish. We want you to make yourself at home.
”

“
A drink first, then, please, if I may.
”
Veronica
’
s husky voice seemed tinged with utter weariness.
“
It
’
s been rather a strain...
”

“
Of course, of course, but that
’
s all over now.
”
Dr. Hislop patted her arm gently and led her to a chair beside his own.
“
You must make a new life for yourself here,
”
he decided,
“
when you
’
ve rested a little and know what you wish most to do. Right now we must all help you recover from what must have been as big a shock to you as it was to us, perhaps even greate
r
...?
”

“
It was ... dreadful.
”
Abruptly Veronica covered her face with her long, slim hands and a sudden shudder ran over her whole body. Trudie thought for a moment that she was about to burst into tears, but she did nothing of the kind. Veronica appeared to recover herself after a moment or two and as Dr. Hislop put a drink into her hand she sat up, looking pathetically beautiful and defenseless.
“
I
’
d rather not talk about it, if you don
’
t mind,
”
she said softly.
“
I
... can
’
t somehow, not yet.
”

“
That
’
s all right, my dear.
”
He patted her reassuringly.
“
We understand. When you know us better, when you
’
ve been with us a little time, you
’
ll be better able to talk about... what happened. Right now the thing to do is to put it out of your mind.
”

Trudie could scarcely believe her ears. Her father was telling this girl who, presumably, had been closer to Garth in the last year of his life than anyone else could possibly have been, to put the mystery and circumstances of his death
“
out of her mind.
”
He himself, by reason of his own persistence had kept it in the forefront of every member of his family ever since the news first reached them.

She toyed with her own drink, looking carefully around the circle of faces. With Veronica
’
s arrival it seemed that some strange influence had entered the familiar group. It was not just that she was a stranger. Philip Malham had been a stranger to all of them but herself last night, and she had known him as only a colleague, but there had been none of this constraint, none of these glances and pregnant silences. Philip had
“
fitted in,
”
he had blended with the family as one of themselves, but despite her father
’
s affectionate words of welcome and assurance, Trudie could by no stretch of imagination picture Veronica as part of their family group.

She stole a glance at Philip. He was looking at Veronica as though he could never tear his gaze from her, as though he had never before seen a woman
...
and certainly, Trudie reflected with a flash of amusement, he could never have seen anyone likelier new sister-in-law! During the afternoon, over tea, and as they waited at the airport, she had allowed herself to indulge in delicate dreams that one day all this might come true, that they would be together. But when she had first seen him looking at Veronica, she had known it was hopeless and the little dreams had died almost as they were born.

Her confidence and happiness of the afternoon were gone; in their place was a feeling of apprehension such as she had never known in her life before. She looked at Veronica, wondering what the other girl
’
s reactions had been to Philip, but she could tell nothing from the beautiful, inscrutable mask. Just at that moment Veronica lifted her gaze from the contemplation of the wine glass she had been twirling and directed it instead in Philip
’
s direction. From where she sat Trudie could not interpret that look, but of one thing she was certain. Whatever it meant she was sure it boded no good for herself or for whatever concerned herself and Philip. As she rose to accompany the others into the dining room a shiver ran over her, and it took all her self-control not to cry aloud in protest against this alien influence that appeared to have entered the surroundings and people she loved more than anything in the world.

CHAPTER
FIVE

It was late when Philip drove away from the Cedars. Trudie, doing her best to follow his suggestion and do her part toward representing them as a typical engaged couple, escorted him out to his car, but his most vivid memory as he drove away was not o
f
Trudie’s heart-shaped face and violet eyes but of a creamy oval face with tempting red lips and eyes that flashed disturbing messages.

What in the name of goodness had entered into him? He asked himself the question as he headed for home. He had driven back to Conrey House in such a different mood the previous evening. Then he had felt that, safely “engaged” to Trudie Hislop, he would have no further worries regarding his private life and the discussions
that he knew it evoked along the hospital grapevine. He had felt that with the announcement of his engagement he would have at least one major problem out of the way and behind him, and this very afternoon, enjoying Trudie
’
s company in a way he had never believed could be possible for him he had felt happy and at peace with the world.

Now the situation was suddenly different. From the moment Veronica
’
s glance had met his own he had been aware of the pull of some physical magnetism that he could not comprehend. He had not, he scoffed at himself, fallen in love with her. This was something entirely different, but equally powerful, and he did not know in the least how to deal with the situation.

“
I don
’
t even like that type of woman,
”
he told himself, fiercely braking as he rounded the bend of his own drive.
“
She couldn
’
t be a companion even if she tried, and she would have no understanding whatsoever of the work I do ... or the circles in which I move.
”

He wondered suddenly why Garth Hislop had married Veronica in the first place. She was so obviously out of his sphere; her attitude toward people and life was so very different, as she had demonstrated in her attitude toward the children she had escorted over the sea.

“
Perhaps he too felt this ... attraction,
”
Philip thought and with difficulty repressed a shudder. It was not a pleasant thought that he could be so easily susceptible to an attractive face and a provocative figure! Yet it was not only those things, he knew that. There was something else. There was something indefinable about Veronica that was vibrant and alive, and
... magnetic.

“
I suppose it
’
s simply what
’
s known as good old sex appeal,
”
Philip thought, indignant with himself. Then suddenly his thoughts switched to Trudie and he made a mental resolve to be more attentive, more demonstrative on the morrow. She would know it was part of their mutual pretense. What she would not know was that it would also be a part of his own self-defense against this
“
something,
”
even while it drew him to Veronica.

Trudie, too, was thinking over the events of the day and evening. She could tell the exact moment when her newly won feeling of self-confidence and happiness had dropped from her, and that occurred when she had brought back the mischievous child and saw the look exchanged between Philip and her sister-in-law. She had dismissed it at the time, just as she had dismissed Veronica
’
s assumption that her place in the car as their guest was to be beside Philip, just as she had dismissed her father
’
s welcome, which had been no warmer than she had expected him to give; but she could not dismiss the looks she had seen exchanged between the two of them throughout the evening, or the strange, deeply penetrating gaze Veronica had directed after Philip when he said good night.

“
It
’
s probably all because she
’
s strange,
”
Trudie reminded herself,
“
and because we all, except Philip, think of Garth when we see her. And anyway, our engagement isn
’
t real; it really has nothing to do with me.
”
But as she lay in bed, waiting for sleep that would not come, she was still uneasy. It was to guard against this kind of thing, she assured herself, that Philip had suggested the engagement in the first instance, but even as sleep claimed her she was wondering if this could, after all, be the real thing for him.

“
I
’
ll wait and see what happens in the next few days,
”
she decided, turning over and willing herself to sleep.
“
We
’
ll see what happens when we have the dinner party.
”

But the week sped by and the day of the party drew nearer and nearer, and to Trudie’s watchful eyes the strange, wordless communication between Philip and Veronica continued. She was worried because she sensed that Philip was unhappy, and yet Veronica in her own way seemed suddenly contended and relaxed. Mrs. Emma, from the very first evening, had made no secret of her dislike for the other woman.

“Mr. Garth’s gone, rest his soul,” she remarked piously one afternoon, vigorously rolling pastry as though
seeking emotional relief, “but if he could come here right now I’d ask him what in the name of creation made him take up with a young woman like that, for goodness’ sake.” She glanced at Trudie for confirmation of her opinion, but seeing the girl’s white face at the mere mention of her twin, she curbed her own feelings enough to add only, “We’ll say no more about it, but mark my words, Miss Trudie, you’ll have to
watch that one and no mistake about it. I don
’
t know what she
’
s after, but right now she looks like the cat who stole the cream and then the canary for dessert!
”

It was a relief to escape from the kitchen but the relief was short-lived. Veronica was in the lounge, a magazine spread before her as usual, with her lovely face gazing into space as though she saw things there no one else could see or share. In exasperation Trudie turned and went out into the yard where the weeds were greeting spring as eagerly and as full of life as the thrusting, tender, cultivated plants.

She was still on her knees, a growing pile of weeds beside her testifying to the extent of her activities, when Philip arrived. He parked the car and crossed over to her, stopping to raise her to her feet. He kept his arm about her when she was standing, making her wonder if this was done for the benefit of whoever might be watching them from the window, of out of friendliness.

“
What are you going to wear tomorrow... for the party, you know?
”
he asked seriously.
“
Or have you made up your mind?
”

“
It
’
s made up for me.
”
Trudie
’
s smile flashed out.
“
My job doesn
’
t give me a great deal of time for anything other than a uniform,
”
she reminded him teasingly.
“
I only possess two real evening dresses, and I keep those for formal things, and a short one for the monthly hospital dances. I shall wear a dress I bought for Christmas. It
’
s short, but quite suitable.
”

“
And the color?
”
Philip insisted as she paused, wondering why he was making such a fuss.

“
White,
”
Trudie said simply.
“
Just plain.
”
She had been about to add that at times she wore gold-colored accessories for a sophisticated touch and at other times she wore something in a strong, contrasting color. Before she could say any more Veronica drifted from the house hugging a short fur stole about her shoulders.

“
Why don
’
t you come inside?
”
she invited them, but it was Philip to whom she directed her words.
“
It really isn
’
t warm enough to be out here all this time. Trudie
’
s going to end up with an awful cold.
”
The words were lightly spoken, but they made Trudie feel at once very young and unworldly, and already she felt the strong suspicion of an itch around her nostrils.

“
Purely psychological,
”
she assured herself, but it was no comfort to see that Veronica had already asked Philip the name of some shrub she was vowing she had never seen before. The two of them were once more shut away together in that secret world that appeared to enmesh them whenever they met. Trudie sighed, picked up her gardening things, and went off to wash her hands. When she returned to the lounge they were sitting side by side before the small but cheerful fire, and although Philip did his best to draw Trudie into the conversation his efforts were by no means successful, balked every time by Veronica
’
s determination to monopolize him.

Trudie was thinking of that half hour or so when she dressed for the party the following evening. She may, of course, have been completely wrong, she admitted to herself, but Philip had not stayed very long and made obvious excuses to leave before the evening meal. So far as Trudie could see, he was not in the least happy about the situation.

She paused and studied her reflection in the mirror. He had told her before they had met Veronica that now they had
“
completed their arrangement
”
—he had meant, to the outside world they were the conventional newly engaged couple—he felt a freedom from restraint such as he had never felt before.

“
I can relax now, Trudie,
”
he had said.
“
And we can have such fun together, without anyone wondering when the engagement
’
s going to be announced, if we
’
re
“
serious
”
and all the other things they say around St. Catherine
’
s the moment any nurse goes out with someone on the staff. The engagement news wi
ll
be all around the hospital by this time. Everyone
’
s delighted, Matron included; she told me so herself over the telephone this morning when I was arranging for Gustav
’
s visit, so we can go around together without worrying about a thing. And
”
—mentally she pictured his face, alight and eager, pleased by the way in which this matter was working out—
“
I can only hope you take as much pleasure in my company as I find in yours.
”

“
I do,
”
she had told him, meaning every syllable.
“
I am enjoying today immensely.
”

And so she had, she reflected now, right until Veronica joined them. Ever since then there had been this strange atmosphere, nothing tangible, nothing on which she could lay a finger, but present like a living, breathing organism.

“
If tonight is spoiled,
”
Trudie thought abruptly,
“
the only thing to do is to ask him if he would rather call the whole idea off.
”
But in spite of her brave resolution a little shiver of apprehension ran over her as she gave a final, last-minute touch to her hair before going down to welcome the others.

Philip arrived as Trudie ran downstairs. She greeted him as she felt he hoped and expected to be greeted, as a treasured and valued friend, but before he divested himself of his coat he held out a small wrapped box.

“
I hope this will match these,
”
he said slowly and held out a smaller box, bearing the name of the jewelers from whom they had bought their engagement ring. Breathless with excitement, Trudie opened the box and gasped with pleasure; the tell-tale blush rose as she lifted her gaze to his.

“
They
’
re lovely,
”
she said in a hushed little tone,
“
but you ought not to have done this ... they were so expensive.
”

Inside the box, nestled on their velvet cushion, lay a pair of sapphire and diamond earrings, matching the ring. Philip laughed.

“
Then you saw them too?
”
he demanded.
“
I wanted to buy them for you then, but you
’
d said so much about the expense of the ring. Put them on, and the flower too. I want to see how you look before the others arrive.
”

The
“
flower
”
was a delicate blue orchid in a shade Trudie had never seen on a natural growth before. It teamed up with the earrings and the stones in her ring. Catching Philip
’
s approving glance, Trudie felt a wave of supreme happiness wash over her. If only all this could be real, she thought wistfully, and then quickly stifled the thought. It could not be real, because Philip did not love her as she loved him, and all these things were only empty gestures to blind other people. She would be content with that, must be content, if only those meaningful glances exchanged between Veronica and himself meant even less.

The dinner party was off to a very good start. The guests all arrived punctually: Dora drove over in her new, immaculate car with Ursula close on her heels in the equally new Jaguar her uncle had bought for her the previous week. Dora wore a severely tailored violet dress that suited her clear, lightly tanned complexion and silvered, short hair. Ursula
’
s bronze-brown head gleamed like a new chestnut and was the perfect foil for the green satin dress that was moulded to her young figure. Beside them Trudie felt she looked absurdly young in her white and gold dress, but she remembered the orchid at her breast and the earrings, and looked down at her ring until she was reassured. Only when Veronica at last descended the stairs in a daringly cut dress the color of flame, emeralds at her ears, wrists and throat, did she realize how skillfully the actress had placed all three others in the shade.

Across the table Philip watched Veronica covertly, little realizing how closely he himself was being observed by Trudie, Dora and someone else. Malcolm was not blind, but said not a word; he was waiting for some move from the other man, but Philip appeared to be almost mesmerized by Veronica and helpless to do anything about it.

Philip was, indeed, in a strange state where Veronica was concerned. Part of the reason for the orchid and the earrings tonight was because he wanted to prove to her that his life was bound to Trudie
’
s and that their engagement was new, something they were at this very moment celebrating. The other part of his reason was because he had found Trudie so unexpectedly sweet and understanding that he wanted to do something for her, to give her something she would keep forever when this pretense was at an end ... that accounted for the earrings. The orchid he had added because he had felt it extremely unlikely she had ever had one sent to her before, and her delight in his gift was more than adequate repayment so far as he was concerned.